# Is this 'WW2 Fact' correct? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 13, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-ww2-fact-correct/574545 "2011-03-13T16:15:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-ww2-fact-correct/574545/21 "2011-03-13T20:21:41Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > …but when I first heard the illustration above it really threw me, for months after being told about it the random thought would strike me at home, “Yep, they’re _still_ marching past” and it gave me the slightest glimpse of how massive a number of people fifty-million really is. Ah, well, that’s different if you’re going to actually experience the passing time. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-ww2-fact-correct/574545/22 "2011-03-13T21:36:40Z")
> [@Romeo\_and\_Whatsherface](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by Bryan Ekers View Post > > Not really. It’s like saying “The deficit is now five trillion dollars. That means if there was only one guy in this country, he’d have to kick in five trillion dollars!” Basically, the illustration just numbs the readers with its scale. If you want a better example, I suggest “The world population around 1939 was around 2.1 billion. In the few years leading up to and following around 50 million were killed in war, or about 2%. Now picture a group of fifty children on an afternoon field trip. Before it is over, one of them will be dead.” > > Way to minimize the horror. [Olympia](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEAPFnJ9jlU). These are the stands at the Berlin 36 Olympics. Within 10 years, a majority of the German/Austrian men there between 15 and 40 will be dead. Probably about 65%. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-ww2-fact-correct/574545/23 "2011-03-13T21:38:40Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > It’s not pretty when it happens. Makes us tired, too. ---
**Author:** ![Uncertain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Uncertain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncertain)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-ww2-fact-correct/574545/24 "2011-03-13T21:51:32Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > > [@runner pat](#): > > > > How would a dead person march? > > We’ll see in about 2 years, when I post to this thread again. That would be a zombie thread. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-ww2-fact-correct/574545/25 "2011-03-13T22:23:06Z")
There are two ways I remember how many Xs are in a Y when it comes to time. [This](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8iTeDl_Wug#t=54s) for years and [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbfeSImDntw#t=1m14s) for days. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-ww2-fact-correct/574545/26 "2011-03-13T22:25:04Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > How would a dead person march? Wait a few years until somebody resurrects this thread… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-ww2-fact-correct/574545/27 "2011-03-13T23:00:30Z")
nm. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-ww2-fact-correct/574545/28 "2011-03-13T23:42:26Z")
I guess I’d use the back door for a couple of years, but towards the end I’d stay in my living room waiting for Hitler to come by. Then I’d yell “Hey Hitler! Fuck you!” ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-ww2-fact-correct/574545/29 "2011-03-14T00:55:25Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > At that rate we may have to close this world. In sixty years. Thanks for literally making me laugh out loud, Charles… Joe ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-ww2-fact-correct/574545/30 "2011-03-14T01:06:34Z")
> [@sh1bu1](#): > > The math isn’t that hard. No algebra of funny looking symbols, but it does require you to actually think. > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > sh1bu1 made an arithmetic error - 30 times 60 is 1800, not 180. > [@sh1bu1](#): > > Or 8640 if I do the math. :smack: I think this mathematical extension to Gaudere’s Rule is sufficiently exemplary so that no remark from me on the inadvisability of snarkiness in GQ is really necessary. 😃 Colibri General Questions Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-ww2-fact-correct/574545.md?page=1)